MARITIME CONFERENCE

Evening Star, Issue 20309, 18 October 1929, Page 9

MARITIME CONFERENCE

EMPLOYERS TO PARTICIPATE SAILORS’ CHAMPION Fmu Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. GENEVA, October 16. It is learned that a compromise has been effected under which the employer's will participate in the conference during the discussion on tho hours of work. Tire Australian delegate'(Mr Foster) said that the tradition was that a sailor must work all of every hour demanded of him. He would do all in Ins power to sweep this musty tradition into oblivion. Ho thought tho sailor was substituted in the labour market when the negro slave Avas abolished. Negroes were bought outright, 'but sailors were simply hired, used, and throAvn on the scrap heap. The losses to tho Commonwealth Line were cine to incompetence and wild extravagance. The Australian hours bad uot resulted in a decline in the shipping. Having Avorked under Australian conditions for many years, be stood steadfast to the opinion that it was tho best possible system yet devised. He asked tho conference not to endorse tho barbarous system of traffic in men’s bodies and souls.—Australian Press Association. OWNERS’ DELEGATES RETURN. GENEVA, October 17. (Received October IS, at D a.m.) Tho employers’ delegates returned to tho Maritime Conference, and are participating in the work of the committee, Avhieh is discussing shipboard hours. They- repudiate the suggestion that the ship owners intended to attack the British Government. Their only object. Avas to make tho conference a truly rcprescntativE) one .—Australian Press Association.